IEC 61850 Hands On Training Series - Part 4 Testing in IEC 61850 Systems Simulation to Maintenance

Following the success of our previous sessions on IEC 61850 fundamentals, data modeling, and communication services, we invite you to join us for Part 4: “Testing in IEC 61850 Systems – From Design Simulation to Maintenance.” This session explores how testing is performed throughout the lifecycle of an IEC 61850 system — starting with design verification using a simulation of the System Configuration Description (SCD) file, and continuing through unit, factory, commissioning, and maintenance testing. Participants will learn how the same test scripts created during early simulation can be reused, refined, and migrated across each testing stage, reducing setup time and ensuring consistent validation results throughout the system’s lifecycle. Testing plays a vital role in confirming that systems behave as designed and that protection and control schemes operate safely and reliably. This webinar demonstrates how IEC 61850 provides standardized mechanisms to support testing — including simulation flags, logical node behavior, and virtual isolation — supporting utilities and vendors with the validation of complex systems. You’ll also see how Triangle MicroWorks testing tools, such as Distributed Test Manager (DTM) and IEC 61850 Test Suite Pro (TSP), can be applied to create, maintain, and execute test scripts that evolve from simulated environments to live systems. What You'll Learn: How IEC 61850 supports testing across the full system lifecycle and enables test script reuse: Simulate SCD File Design – Begin by validating the system design through simulation of the SCD file, creating baseline test scripts that validate both the exchange of signals and the GOOSE messages used to configure these signal exchanges. Unit Testing – Reuse and refine these scripts to validate each IED’s configuration early in a project, checking both logic and IEC 61850 communication configuration. Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) – Simulating missing IEDs and validating inter-bay communication using DTM and TSP. Commissioning and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) – During this stage, you can reuse the test scripts developed earlier to validate the final system. This ensures consistent results and streamlines the deployment process. Maintenance Testing with Virtual Isolation – Continue using and updating these test scripts for maintenance purpose like routine testing or equipment replacement, using virtual isolation and simulation flags to test safely without physical disconnection. Additional topics include: How simulation flags and the LGOS logical node provide visibility into simulated GOOSE streams. How the Mode/Beh mechanism governs which data attributes are acted upon or ignored during testing. The Simulation of the SCD file can be used to begin operator training on the control center software and technician training on the test software similar to how pilots are trained and periodically tested on a flight simulator. Best practices for designing systems to be testable like: Including .q attributes in GOOSE datasets. Designating dedicated Report Control Blocks (RCBs) for test tools. Include testing of virtual isolation in test plans for design and commissioning of the system.